Born in Picton, Ontario, he first ran unsuccessfully for the House of Commons of Canada in the riding of Vancouver Centre in a 1948 by-election.

Campney attended Picton Collegiate and graduated at 16, beginning a career as a rural school teacher.

Upon his return to Canada, Campney became political secretary to William Lyon Mackenzie King from 1925 to 1926 in Ottawa.

1936, Campney was asked by the Canadian government to become the first chairman of the National Harbours Board, remaining in this position for three and a half years.

He ran for the first time as a Liberal nominee in a federal by-election in the riding of Vancouver Centre in 1948, where he was defeated.

In 1950, Crampney was chair of a special parliamentary committee on the National Defence Act which unified the administration of the three military services.